Seven dreamy holiday destinations if money were no object

WE all dream of what we would do if money were no object.

travel

WE all dream of what we would do if money were no object.

Florence

The heart of the Renaissance, the city so steeped in history and art that there is a psychosomatic condition, Stendhal Syndrome, named after the response of one visitor to its overwhelming beauty. Galleries, museums and stunning architecture abound, including the spectacular Duomo, quite the most breathtaking cathedral one could ever wish to see. From there to the Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Galleria dell’Accademia – housing Michaelangelo’s legendary David – and the Ponte Vecchio, the colourful shopping strip crossing the shining Arno River, you can’t turn a corner in Florence without getting a glimpse of yet more examples of wondrous human creativity. The city is a magnet for tourists, but with good reason.

The Serengeti

There’s no better place to satisfy the wildlife-lover than Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Two million wildebeest, half a million gazelles and a quarter of a million zebra roam the plains here, along with giraffe, hippo, warthog, hyena and hundreds of other amazing species. And then there are the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Take a safari tour into the heart of the Serengeti and marvel at one of the world’s great wildernesses. Explore the beauty of the Ngorongoro Crater and nearby Mount Kilimanjaro, connecting with the natural world in a way only a lucky few get to.

Interlaken, Switzerland

Nestled in the Alps of central Switzerland, the little town of Interlaken is the gateway to the mountains and lakes of the Bernese Highlands. From Interlaken it’s a short trip to towering peaks like the Jungfrau, the Mönch, and the Eiger; and the Jungfrauhoch, the saddle between the Jungfrau and the Mönch that is the highest point accessible by train in Europe. Nearby Brienz has one of Switzerland’s last steam railways. Hiking, skiing, canyoning, paragliding and skydiving are all on offer, with the cosiness of an Alpine lodge beckoning at the end of each day, at a destination combining natural wonder with cosy old-world European hospitality.

Galapagos Islands

Straddling the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos are famously the islands where Charles Darwin gained the inspiration for the theory of evolution and are still notable for the vast number of species that are found nowhere else on earth. One of the most remote destinations for intrepid tourists – only two of the islands are accessible by air – this is the perfect place to truly “get away from it all”. Cruising amid the islands, snorkelling amongst the vivid marine life, paddling in the warm waters of the Pacific: there’s no better place to cast off all worldly cares.

Bolivia

There’s no adventure like cruising down the Amazon River. Depending on which delights of the vast Amazon Basin you choose to savour, you might find yourself face to face with spider monkeys, swimming with pink dolphins, fishing for piranha or trekking into the deep jungle to the remote villages of the Achuar people. Away from the jungle you might want to mingle in the bustling markets of La Paz or explore the mindblowing salt flats of Uyuni. It’s the infinite variety of this grand region of South America that will make the trip unforgettable.

Shanghai

The most populous city in the world, with 24 million people calling it home, Shanghai will never leave you wanting for company. In the 19th century a major international trading hub, today a centre of technology and innovation, Shanghai presents a dazzling range of culture, art, history, progress and entertainment. Showing influences of both traditional Chinese culture and the global visitors who have flocked to it over the centuries, it’s a unique part of modern China. Fans of architecture can marvel at the art deco Paramount dancehall, the skyscraping Shanghai World Financial Center and the uniquely Shanghainese shikumen townhouses; history buffs will find much to pore over in the Shanghai Museum, its collection including a huge stock of ancient Chinese bronzes; and for a futuristic kick, ride the Maglev, the world’s fastest train – 431 kilometres per hour. But in a city of 24 million, there’s no risk of running out of things to see and do – Shanghai genuinely does have something for everyone.

The Sahara

Starting out in Morocco’s old fortified city of Marrakech, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to take a tour into the mysterious Sahara desert. You can book tours to travel the sands by both modern – 4WD – and traditional – dromedary – means, venturing into the High Atlas Mountains and visiting remote Berber villages. Sleeping under the stars in the midst of the vast sandy ocean, it’s a trip to bring home just how wide the world truly is.

Originally published as Seven dreamy holiday destinations if money were no object